Srimangala: Efforts to capture a tiger that killed a cow in Bellur village under the Hudikeri Gram Panchayat hit a roadblock on the second day, with heavy rains disrupting the operation and no signs of the animal yet.
The Forest Department has pledged to continue the operation until the tiger is captured. Villagers have suggested installing additional cameras, a step that State Wildlife Board member Sanket Poovayya confirmed would be implemented.
Providing updates on Monday, Poovayya stated that rains had hampered progress, but the operation would resume once the weather improves. On Sunday, he inspected two cages installed to trap the tiger but confirmed they remained untouched.
The operation involves a team of 40 Forest Department officials and staff. While villagers recommended using elephants in the coffee plantations to track the tiger, the suggestion was set aside to avoid damage to the crops.
“Elephants offer an elevated vantage point for spotting the tiger and their scent can drive the animal away. However, considering potential harm to coffee crops, we have decided not to use them,” said Poovayya.
On Tuesday, additional cameras will be installed at key locations to monitor the tiger’s movements. If its presence is confirmed, officials plan to encircle the area and deploy the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and Elephant Task Force (ETF), if required.
This is the second major operation in the area in recent months to address human-wildlife conflict. Villagers have expressed concerns about the adequacy of compensation for livestock loss and have sought revisions.
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